Rotary engine.



PATEN'IED JUNEZ, T908.

F. M. LEGHNER. ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLIQATION FILED 00T. 3, 1906.

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e .6 0 9 .EI i NG PATENTED JUNE 2, 1908.

No. 889,247. PATENTED JUNE 2, 1908. E. M. LEGENER. ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLIOATION FILED 0018. 1906.

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PATENTE) JUNE 2, 1908.

P. M. LEGHNER. ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLIOATION FILED 00T. 3, 1906.

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UNTED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE. FRANCIS M. LECHNER, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO 'IHE CONCENTRIC ENGINE AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2, 1908.

Application filed October 3, 1906. Serial No. 337,187.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS M. LECHNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Rotary Engines, of which the following is a specification.

The obj ect of this invention is to provide a cheap, economical and efhcient rotary engine the motive power of which is steam, air or other fluid under pressure.

The invention resides in the construction herein shown and described, the invention not being confined in its practical embodiment to the precise detailsshown.

In the accompanying drawings-Figure l is a central vertical sectional view taken longitudinally with reference to the axis of motion of the driven shaft; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the left hand side as presented in Fig. 1 with the hub of the outer or rotary cylinder in section; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation of the right hand standard showing the end of the lateral extension of the internal cylinder with the supply and exhaust ports therein; Fig. 4 is a vertical cross section on the line :c-x Fig. l looking to the right; Fig. 5 is a similar section on the line 'y-y looking to the right; Fig. 6 is a sectional detail on a larger scale of the gate or valve; Fig. 7 is a sectional detail on the linea-,z Fig. 4; Fig. 8 is a view, partially in section, of the gate or valve removed; Fig. 9 is a plan view of the upper edge of what is shown in Fig. v8 Fig. 10 is an elevation of the left hand end of what is shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is a detail side view of a packing ring used between the contiguous faces of the cylinders showing the same uncompressed ,.Fig. 12 is a similar view showing the ring compressed.

In the views 1 designates the internal cylinder and 2 the external cylinder. The internal cylinder is of smaller diameter generally than the internal diameter of the external cylinder so as to provide an annular chamber around the internal cylinder. The annular chamber is divided into two compartments by transverse bridges or abutments 3 and 3a located at diametrically o posite points on the internal cylinder. Tie abutments are furnished with suitable packings 4 and 4u to prevent leakage between the compartments, and each of the approaches to each of the abutments from the main surface of the internal cylinder is inclined, as illustrated at 5 and 5a, to prevent violent swinging motion of the valves or gates as they pass over said abutments, as hereinafter indicated.

The internal cylinder is provided with a central lateral extension la. The character 6 designates the iiuid pressure inlet passage in the internal cylinder. This passage is diametrically disposed except where it is deiiected around the axis of the cylinder; and it is connected with the exterior of the engine by a passage 6aL through the lateral extension l 7 designates the exhaust passage. This passage is the same in form as the inlet passage and it communicates with the exterior .of the engine by means of a passage 7a in the extension 1a. The passages 6, 6L and 7, 7a are, of course, independent of each other, and the passages 6 and 7 are inclined to each other so that the terminals of the same` passage lie on operatively corresponding sides of the abutments, but different passages terminate on opposite sides of the same abutment, both being rather near the abutments. The two compartments between abutments thus each have an inlet and an `exhaust located more than ninety degrees asunder. In order that the terminals of the inlets can lie near the abutments the inclined approach to said abutment at that side is cut out at its middle.

The external cylinder 2 is comprised of a cylindrical rim portion 2a to which is bolted, at opposite sides, heads 2b and 2C. The head 2b is rovided with a central opening through which extends the lateral projection 1IIL of the internal cylinder, and keyed to turn with the head 2C is the driven or power shaft 8. This shaft is conveniently extended through the lateral projection 1a of the interior cylinder.

The engine is supported in suitable standards 9 and 9a the lateral projection 1a being secured from turning by meansl of a set screw 9b in the standard 9 and the shaft 8 resting to turn in suitable bearings in the standardQa.

10 designates the gates or valves. There are four of these gates or valves spaced equidistantly apart around the inner side of the rim of the exterior cylinder. The gates l0 are shaped to fit in sockets 2d and are provided with pintles or spindles l0a journaled in the heads 2b and 2O. The forward wall 2B of the socket is preferably made such that it takes the stress or pressure of the valve or gate, and the gate is made of such depth that the free edge of the gate does not press against the surface of the internal cylinder. To prevent leakage, however, the edges and ends of the gates or valves are furnished with suitable packings 10b and 10c acted on by springs (see Fig. S) to hold them against the surfaces of the interior cylinder on which they run. The end packings 10b are recessed to engage the ends of the edge packings 10c and the end packings are held from dislodgment, but movably, by the pins 10a, as seen in Fig. 10. One end of each of the pins 10a protrudes through the head, and each is provided with a suitable spring 11 tending to project the valve or gate into position across the compartment to close it forward of the pressure. The tension of the spring 11 can be regulated by means of a rod 11a attached to it and a set screw 11b in a binding post 11C through which the rod is passed.

Where the extension la passes through the head 2b it can be suitably packed or provided with a bushing to prevent leakage, as, for example, as seen in Fig. 1.

To prevent leakage between outer and inner faces of the cylinders I provide a special construction consisting of split rings 12, 12a and 12b fitted in grooves in the contiguous faces of the respective cylinders. The rings are split rings, as seen in Figs. 11 and 12, cut as shown in Fig. 11 so as to lap when the ends are sprung inward, as shown in Fig. 12. The seats for the rings are made .0f smaller circumference than the ring in the condition shown in Fig. 11 so that the ring will fit closely when sprung, as seen in Fig. 12. All three of the rings are backed by coil springs 13 so as to hold the ring with gentle pressure against the opposing surface. The springs of the rings 12 and 12a can be inserted through openings from the outer side of the external cylinder, said openings being closed by screws 14.

In practice, steam, compressed air or other fluid under pressure is admitted at the passage 6, which, operating in the compartments between the abutments of the interior stationary cylinder vand the gates or valves of the outer rotary cylinder, propels the latter. The fluid in advance of a given diametrical pair of gates or valves exhausts through the passages 7 and 7'a after the other pair of gates or valves has reached or passed the terminals of said passage; and because one pair of the gates is projected across the compartment in front of the terminalsV of the passage 6 before the other pair reaches the terminals of the exhaust, one pair of the gates is constantly opposed to and operated by the pressure.

As before indicated, the gates fit in the pockets provided for them in the interior of the rotary cylinder, and as they pass over the bridges or abutments they are, by the in- Aherein shown and described the same operating fluid works with equal force upon equal areas on opposite sides of the axis of motion.

That I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. ln a rotary engine, the combination of an internal stationary cylinder provided with a central lateral extension and with a fluid pressure passage and an exhaust passage, an external rotary cylinder carrying valves to work between the stationary and rotary cylinders, each of said passages opening at opposite sides of the stationary cylinder and having independent connections with the exterior of the engine through the lateral extension of the internal cylinder, and a shaft connected with the external cylinder and passing through said lateral extension thereto.

2. In a rotary engine, the combination of an internal stationary cylinder and an external rotary cylinder concentrically arranged and with a Huid. ressure chamber between them, diametricallly opposite abutments on the internal cylinder dividing said fluid pressure chamber into two compartments, said abutments each provided on one side thereof with a channel extending circumferentially, the interior cylinder opening into each of said compartments through said chambers, a fluid pressure passage and an exhaust passage opening into each of said compartments, movab e valves carried by the external rotary cylinder adapted to be successively operated on by the fluid pressure and operated by the abutments.

3. In a rotary engine, the combination of an internal stationary cylinderand an external rotary cylinder arranged with a fluid pressure chamber between them, diametrically opposite abutments on the internal cylinder dividing the fluid pressure chamber into two compartments, a fluid pressure passage and an exhaust passage opening into each of said compartments, said openings being more than ninety degrees apart, hin ed valves carried by the external rotary cy inder, springs on the exterior of the engine for operating said valves in one direction, means for varyin the tension of said springs, and means for hoding the springs under different tensions.

4. In a rotary engine, the combination with an external rotary cylinder, of internal hinged valves or gates having spindles protruding through the cylinder, springs on the protruding spindles for operating the valves or gates, means for varying the tension of said springs, and means for maintaining the springs under dierent degrees of tension.

5. In a rotary engine, the combination with an external rotary cylinder, of an internal hinged valve provided With a spindle, a packing at the free edge of said valve, and end packings en aging the edge packing but movable laterally independently thereof, said end packings being movable longitudinally and laterally but held from dislodgment longitudinally by engagement with said spindle.

6. In .a rotary engine, the combination with an external rotary cylinder, of an internal hinged valve provided With a spindle, a

packing movably seated in the free edge of the valve,4 packings movably seated in the ends of the valve, said end packings engaging t the spindle and held from removal thereby,

said end packings also engaging the edge packing, and said end packings being movable laterally independently of the edge packing.

7. In a rotary engine, the combination With an external rotary cylinder, of an internal hinged valve or gate provided With a spindle and its free edge provided with a packing and its ends provided with packings engaging the edge packing, said end packings movably held by the spindle, and springs for pressing the edge packing.

8, ln a rotary engine, the combination of the internal cylinder and the external cylinder, one of the contiguous faces of Which is provided With an annular seat, of a split packing ring seated in said seat, and means for adjusting said ring laterally in its seat.

9. In a rotary engine, the combination of the internal cylinder and the external cylinder, one of the contiguous faces of Which is provided with an annular seat, of a split packing ring having a lap joint at its ends seated in said seat, said ring being normally of lar er diameter than said seat, whereby it must e contracted to be placed in said seat.

A FRANCIS M. LECHNER. Witnesses:

BENJ. FINCKEL, ALICE B. Coox. 

